COVER- Dressing down: Was this bar speaking in Code?

Are big, baggy clothes bad news? Owners of Jaberwoke restaurant on the Corner recently decided the answer is yes. People sporting such duds, they claim, are more likely to be rude to staff and start fights in their establishment. So a month ago, citing "safety" and a wish to encourage "better behavior," the owners imposed a dress code banning various articles of clothing at Jaberwoke and their other two restaurants, The Virginian and West Main.

The action ignited a firestorm.

Banned items included white t-shirts, oversized t-shirts, baggy jeans, sweatpants, and hats without brims– in other words, the threads of choice of hip-hop music fans.

"It ain't dress; it's race," declared an outraged Rick Turner, local NAACP president and UVA's former Dean of African American Affairs at a meeting at the restaurant last week. "You really don't want black people in your bar."

It wasn't just Turner who was angry.

Controversy raged in the pages of the Cavalier Daily, and a new group suddenly sprang up on the popular student networking website, Facebook. Then came resolutions passed by UVA Student Council and the UVA chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The heat convinced Jaberwoke co-owner Anderson McClure to attend a packed student council meeting on Tuesday, March 20, and to call a public meeting at Jaberwoke on Wednesday afternoon, March 21. Nearly 50 students, most of them African American, filled Jaberwoke for the two-hour confab.

"The policies you've implemented are flawed," argued one female student. "They're based on preconceived notions."

"Making assumptions about these clothes is wrong," said another, and still others noted the irony that a restaurant that hosts a hip-hop night each Thursday would ban the clothing associated with the music. While students took turns and raised hands before commenting, tension erupted.

"Put away your cigarette," ordered one female student to audience applause, offended that McClure was smoking during the meeting. She demanded to know whether McClure would target red t-shirts if he thought they might spark violence. Others asked if he'd ban polo shirts if he noticed fights breaking out among the preppy set.

"Absolutely," McClure responded.

The debate spread online at the Facebook website.

"Did they seriously think we'd be too dumb to notice that their actions were clearly targeting blacks?" asked a poster, one of more than 400 members of the group dubbed "Hoos Against Jaberwoke."

A March 20 Cavalier Daily op-ed considered the complexity of the code. "Like a law forbidding rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges," writes Alex Solotorovsky, "a general prohibition on clothing worn primarily by young black men is a facially neutral rule whose greatest impact is felt by a single group."

Another writer, however, found the entire debate ridiculous, noting that clothing, like bars, is a personal choice.

Most attendees at the meeting believed the dress code represented veiled racism, but one African American student defended it.

"You all are lying to yourselves," said Chase Emanuel, a UVA third-year who bartends at the Biltmore Grill on Elliewood Avenue. He cited his own observations working late at night at that Corner area bar. White t-shirts, baggy jeans, and hats without brims are the outfit of choice for many troublemakers. "There is a trend, and you really can't ignore that."

Despite Emanuel's support, 75 minutes into the meeting, as McClure was peppered with questions and accusations of racism, he held up a sheet listing the verboten items.

"This is no longer our dress code," he declared, asking students to consult with him on creating a code more to their liking.

His announcement, however, didn't appease the crowd.

"I don't understand why you need a dress code at all," replied student Sage Garner, referring to the restaurant's other rules that specify unacceptable behavior (which include a ban on customers who don't tip). Another student wondered why McClure would trust them to make business decisions when they have no experience running a restaurant. The conversation returned to racial profiling and discrimination.

The day after the meeting, a frustrated McClure denied the accusations of racism, citing his diverse staff and multicultural clientele. "If you knew me," he says, "you'd know there's not a racist bone in my body."

The confrontational tone of the discussion "made me sad," he says. "It wasn't productive at all." He was especially disheartened to be presented with resolutions from the UVA Student Council and from the NAACP threatening further action after he had attended the Council meeting to hear students' concerns, and had voluntarily opened the restaurant to host the public discussion.

"It seems like no matter what I do, I'm going to be attacked," he says. "It's really, really disconcerting."

While McClure felt discouraged in the days after the public forum, those who attended said the meeting had value.

"Definitely productive," says Garner, a member of the UVA chapter of the NAACP, a peer advisor for UVA's Office of African American Affairs, and president of ReMiX, UVA's hip-hop a cappella group. "Members of the student body and Charlottesville community were able to voice their concerns in an effort to be heard and incite change," she says. That the dress code was "stripped," she adds, "is definitely evidence that something was accomplished yesterday."

If Garner and others are pleased that Jaberwoke dropped its dress code, they may now turn their attention to other local establishments with similar policies, including Rapture and O'Grady's.

"We've had a dress code for almost three years," says Mike Rodi, owner of Rapture and the dance club R2. Rodi's code also rules out oversized t-shirts and baggy jeans, partly because of what can be hidden underneath.

"You can conceal a small anti-aircraft carrier under some of those shirts," he says. "We've had people pull out weapons, mostly knives."

Is his dress code racist?

"It's not about skin color," Rodi insists. "If you come into Rapture, half the employees and customers are African American."

When someone– black or white– comes to the door in the oversized clothing popularized by hip-hop artists, Rodi says, there are two possibilities: "One is they just like the style, or two, they're embracing this thug identity." Simply telling them about the dress code actually helps bouncers screen for which group they fall into, Rodi says.

"If it's the former, they'll probably go home and change or go somewhere else. If you say it to the latter, they start screaming and cursing. The problems we've had seem almost invariably with guys wearing giant t-shirts."

Garner bristles at the assumption that baggy clothes suggest a prediliction for violence.

"I think it's irresponsible to randomly pick a dress code and think that will solve behavioral problems," she says. "Never has it been proven that banning people who wear baggy jeans prevents violence anywhere."

Despite a lack of hard evidence, a recent Cavalier Daily column suggests that it's not just white people who see a problem with hip-hop attire.

"Shouldn't we face the claim that McClure as well as older members of our own community have made that this sort of dress is associated with 'thuggish' behavior?" asked author Stephanie Henderson, who also argued that hip-hop attire is not the sartorial choice of only young black men.

"With reality shows like VH1's The White Rapper Show and with a large number of white youth walking around dressed like this," she wrote, "one can see that baggy jeans and white t-shirts are no longer exclusively 'black.'"

Charlottesville's sole African American City Councilor, Kendra Hamilton, suggests that the banned style of dress could be a way to discourage not only blacks, but lower-income patrons.

"I say, more particularly than blacks, 'townie' kids," says Hamilton. "Some of the items mentioned on the list of banned clothing are recognized styles worn by Charlottesville kids."

Still, she says, Jaberwoke is "a private business with a right to institute a dress code, and dress codes are by nature exclusionary."

"Our concern with dress codes is that they will not be applied in an even-handed way," says Glenburg, who cites an undercover TV news investigation at a club with a dress code in Norfolk. Two young men, one white and the other black, went to the club dressed identically. The white man got in with no problem, Glenberg says, while the African American man was stopped at the door.

"Consciously or not," says Glenberg, "employees might not enforce the dress code in an evenhanded way."

Biltmore bartender Emanuel says that recently happened when an Asian student tested the fairness of Jaberwoke's dress code by deliberately wearing prohibited clothes to the restaurant and was allowed in.

"That's blatant racial profiling," says Emanuel. "If that were the reason for the protest and the hoopla, then I would have completely agreed."

"That is terrible," McClure said at the meeting when told of the situation. "If that happened, I take full responsibility," he added, promising to speak to his bouncers.

Hamilton says she hopes the controversy will cause everyone in Charlottesville to "think a little harder" about the profound racial issues and tension that exist and that periodically boil over, as they did in 2005 and 2006 during the eight-month tenure of divisive school superintendent Scottie Griffin. "We live in a divided community," Hamilton says. " There's tracking in the schools. Our neighborhoods are mostly segregated by race. The north side of town has more resources than the southside. The list goes on."

Emanuel, who started working as a bouncer at O'Neill's Irish Pub inAugust before moving to the Biltmore in December, says McClure wouldn't have had problems if he had made his dress code broader. Emanuel also thinks McClure should have defended the dress code more vigorously at the meeting rather than trying to be "so PC." He thinks if McClure had simply rewritten the dress code to remove any hint of racism, the outcry would have died down quickly.

"This is one of those instances where you have legitimate reasons for a dress code," he says, "but in order to not be misunderstood, it suits everybody better to mask the agenda a little bit."

Columnist Solotorovsky suggested implementing "positive rules such as 'collared shirt' or 'tuck in your shirt' or 'jacket after six.'"That, he wrote, would separate the "well mannered from the ill mannered without the confrontational tone or racial bias of the Jaberwoke dress code."

And Garner, who acknowledges that dress codes "exist for legitimate reasons in many places, most commonly to create a certain atmosphere that is consistent with the quality of the establisment," agrees that framing a dress code in positive terms would have quelled the controversy.

"If the code had a list of things to wear that did not include white t-shirts, etc., the people who wear those types of clothing would not get in," she says. "The difference is, they wouldn't have been singled out so blatantly."

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PHOTO BY TOM DALY

"It's ridiculous to call for a dress code to push an entire group of people away," says Sage Garner, a member of the UVA chapter of the NAACP. PHOTO TOM DALY

In response to the dress code, Greg Jackson created the facebook group "Hoos Against Jaberwoke," which now boasts more than 400 members. PHOTO BY TOM DALY

Local NAACP president Rick Turner reads the posted dress code at Jaberwoke on March 21. PHOTO BY TOM DALY

A little over an hour into the meeting, under pressure from nearly 50 students, Jaberwoke co-owner Anderson McClure repealed the dress code. PHOTO BY TOM DALY

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58 comments

Jay March 29th, 2007 | 11:05am

I tried to get into a club in DC once and was not allowed in because I was wearing flip flops and patagonia fleece. Thinking back on it I was racially profiled, I'm going to call a meeting.

Give me a break, it is a privately owned establishment and if he feels business is hurt by this type of dress than he has the right to implement any dress code that he wants. If you really want to go there, change, if not go to the next bar.

Sidonie March 29th, 2007 | 11:43am

the flip side of implementing any dress code he wants is that customers are free say what they think about the dress code or boycott the restaurant.

freedom cuts both ways.

david duke March 29th, 2007 | 12:01pm

I suppose if he implemented a dress code that disallowed white robes and pointy hats all the whiners would stay home and watch Greys anatomy instead of coming to our aid. After all we are much more of a minority than blacks.

He is not trying to get rid of blacks he is trying to get rid of trouble. He has a legal duty to keep trouble out. You same crybabies would sue quick if you got knifed by one of these thugs.

blah, blah March 29th, 2007 | 12:12pm

I think that when we tend to profile people wearing particular clothing we usually associate it with a certain type of behavior that we’ve witnessed from people with that type of clothing. If this bar owner has had problems with people who wear that type of clothing in his establishment repeatedly then I think it’s totally within his right to say that they can not come in. I think the owner’s first responsibility is to the safety of his patrons and he has the right to police that however he feels will serve the interest of the majority. If you saw a bunch of big white men in the bar with white hoods and white draped sheets on – would you feel comfortable in the establishment? Probably the majority would say no because people who dress in that way have been identified as ignorant and dangerous. Why does it ALWAYS have to be about race? I get so tired of hearing that card played!! I think there are a lot of people who need to start their individual healing process and move forward from this way of thinking!

Eminem March 29th, 2007 | 12:40pm

Oh, please, white guys embrace this "look" more than their black brothers, who began it like a decade ago. Honestly, I think McClure has every right to issue a dress code just as any restaurant or club. And patrons have every right to vote with their wallets.

you guys are just as ignorant!! March 29th, 2007 | 2:09pm

you're all missing the whole point. of course he has the right to do whatever he wants. the point of students attending the discussion was to let him know how he made his former consumers FEEL, and that is rejected and discriminated against. It's not about reeeeally wanting to go to Jaberwoke--the restaurant food sucks and the service is so terrible it's actually funny. It's about someone proclaiming that their restaurant is something that it's not, and it's about making an assumption that people that look a certain way are going to commit violent acts, which is INACCURATE and just a form of profiling (notice I didn't even say 'racial profiling'). The issue is NOT the dress code, but his specific reasons for it. I was at the meeting, and I expressed my feelings, but I honestly didn't even care about whether or not he changed the dresscode. After being in his presence for more than five minutes, I know I'll never step foot in there again. It's about an ignorant, unprofessional, unintelligent man -- or "man" -- pointing fingers at other people when he can't even run his own establishment. Half of you making these comments are just as bad...just ignorant.

Renee Green March 29th, 2007 | 2:30pm

There is a big difference between "whiners/crybabies" and people who are against racial injustice and racial profiling. If you've never been racially profiled I imagine you would be tired of hearing about "the race card," as it woudln't pertain to you or your narrow-minded little world. You know the old adage about walking in someone else's shoes. Unless it has happened to you, then believe me, you have no idea of what you are talking about. So go on and eat at Jabberwacky, and hopefully, sit next to some big white guys in pointy hats. Sadly, I think you'd feel right at home.

THINK March 29th, 2007 | 2:38pm

you know what....if any of you who wrote the first few posts were actually AT the meeting, or if you spoke with the owner for more than 2 seconds, you wouldn't want to go to Jab ever again either. this guy's an idiot.

he's just mad that he got called out for being an idiot. and you're all just too blind or ignorant to understand that he was trying to get away with something and used a dress code as a cover.

think people.

Katerina March 29th, 2007 | 3:02pm

Profiling against one group because of skin color or dress is dangerous and must be stopped at its inception. They will come for "your" group next time, and who is going to be left to defend you? Students must stick together to stamp out this type of archaic behavior. Students Unite!

Anti-David Duke March 29th, 2007 | 3:20pm

first of all, who signs their post, 'David Duke?'Thought no one would catch that? Proves your a dum-dum and your post is just as stupid as your name. Whoever is so crazy as to believe that all young people who wear loose comfortable jeans and white t-shirts are criminals, or have criminal tendencies needs a lot of therapy. Lots. The people who would actually consult a check-list before going into a mediocre dining establishment to make sure they are not breaking "the rules" need therapy also. David Duke, Blah Blah and his big white men in pointy hats need to start their restaurant: The 1950s Going Back in Time Cafe.

Anti-David Duke March 29th, 2007 | 3:20pm

first of all, who signs their post, 'David Duke?'Thought no one would catch that? Proves your a dum-dum and your post is just as stupid as your name. Whoever is so crazy as to believe that all young people who wear loose comfortable jeans and white t-shirts are criminals, or have criminal tendencies needs a lot of therapy. Lots. The people who would actually consult a check-list before going into a mediocre dining establishment to make sure they are not breaking "the rules" need therapy also. David Duke, Blah Blah and his big white men in pointy hats need to start their restaurant: The 1950s Going Back in Time Cafe.

Gianni March 29th, 2007 | 4:08pm

Hey David Duke! That even offends me! Although this is the South, I'd like to think most folks are smart enough to not be so overt about their narrow minded views. Apparently, not everyone is smart. Apparently, you can be STUPID and run a restaurant such as JABBERWACK (haha) Hats off to Katerina who said it the way it is. We have to stick together on this.

Sorry McClure - oops! I mean "David Duke." Ha-Ha. You were "made!"

wHY cANT wE jUS GET aLONG March 29th, 2007 | 4:19pm

Duke: Thugs????? If a bunch of drunk red necks in white t-shirts and baggy jeans started a commotion in a restaurant, would you call them thugs? No, you'd call them highly-inebriated, high-spirited or just men being men. You wouldn't think to call them thugs. No, that's reserved for "other" folk. Duke, you lived up to your name. I bet you are right proud of it!

Y ask Y March 29th, 2007 | 4:52pm

To Jay,

You are racially profiled only if it's based solely on race. Duh. The fact that you said you tried to get into a DC club in flip flops and patagonia fleece and were denied...no, fool, that's not racial profiling. (And come now, no black people I know would even consider dressing like that and trying to seriously go clubbing, so you gave yourself away). You were denied entry because you obviously don't have any good sense. You were racially profiled? Go smoke another blunt and look up the meaning. I wish I had your problems. Dude.

a customer March 29th, 2007 | 5:49pm

First off i would like to state the fact that Mr. McClure owns two other successful restaurants in this town, one of them has never had a dress code, and he is a graduate of this fine establishment you call UVA. I would like to think that any graduate of UVA would not be considered an idiot.
For those of you that have this preconceived opinion that he is an idiot, do you or have you ever owned a business before? What lengths would you go to too protect your investment? If there was a certain type of dress that was associated with the problems you were having would you continue to allow that to happen knowing that it could damage your reputation in a very competitive bar scene? This is not a racial issue, all it is doing is protecting people that want to go out and have a good time and don't want to worry about being stabbed or shot or watching drug deals go down in bathrooms. If you don't like the dress code, fine go some where else. It is that easy. If you want to go to a place that has a dress code comply to it! You act as if this is the first time anyone has ever implemented a dress code in this country. Get over it!!!

Sidonie March 29th, 2007 | 6:35pm

dear "a customer," are YOU a business owner? if so, i would hope that you would be in favor of good business practices, rather than poor ones. McClure cobbled together a poorly worded, poorly thought-through policy and he allowed his staff to implement it inconsistently (though I think the wording of the policy made it hard for them--how baggy is too baggy? is a "brimless cap" a skully, a do-rag, a wool winter cap, a yarmulke, or all of the above? is a sorority girl's nice white t-shirt prohibited, or just the kind black guys wear?)

He equivocated when he defended his policy; he said at one point that he was trying to create a more upscale atmosphere. Anyone who's ever been inside Jaberwoke saw through that explanation right away, as they would know that nothing else about the place received an upgrade. Moreover, frat-type guys in grotty shirts, destroyed jeans, and falling-apart ball caps still abounded throughout the place. The speciousness of that argument was pretty apparent.

So overall I see bad business decisions from beginning to end. It's painful, but the consequences of mishandling your business's public relations can turn out this way.

hah March 29th, 2007 | 7:47pm

The comment about the "thugs" and then someone comes back with "drunk red necks" in their example is the pinnacle of hypocrasy. way to go. it's not often that someone can shoot down their own argument in their opening sentence.

For "A Customer" March 29th, 2007 | 7:56pm

Hmm...shootings, stabbings and drug deals in the bathroom? Oh My! Call the authorities! Why is this dive still open? I'm simply agahast and appalled. Has this all happened? Or is afigment of your active imagination (or are you really Mr. McClure???). If all of this is happening in Jabberwocke, and if you are still a customer, what kind of discriminating taste could you possibly have to frequent such a joint? Sounds frightening and I will never dine there again. Thanks for the tip-off! Gives folks another reason to boycott! Like it says wisely above, stop being racial and just think about it, people. T-H-I-N-K.

After the effective date hereof it shall be unlawful to introduce fluorine, or sodium fluoride, or any compound thereof into the city's public water system unless the voters of the city approve the same in a referendum called and held under section 24-141 of the Code, as amended; such referendum to be initiated by a petition seeking introduction of such chemicals filed with the council as hereinafter set forth. The petition shall be signed by qualified voters equal in number to ten percentum of the largest number of votes cast in any general or primary election held in the city during the five years immediately preceding, each signature to which has been witnessed by a person whose affidavit to that effect is attached to the petition. If a majority of the voters voting in the election approve, fluorine, sodium fluoride, or a compound thereof may be added to such water supply; but, if a majority so voting, vote against them then neither fluorine, sodium fluoride, nor any compound thereof shall be added to such water supply system. If a referendum is held hereunder another referendum is held hereunder another referendum thereon shall not be held until the expiration of two years.

Sick and tired! March 29th, 2007 | 9:18pm

I am so sick of all the childish banter of certain individuals who take a simple policy and twist it to fit what they believe to be a race related issue. All of you UVA students who have raised so much hell about the issue of the dress code at jaberwoke....congrats, you have had your names printed in the paper, you have proven that you are still not over issues stemming from a past that you great grandparents and possibly your grandparents had to deal with but in no way are you dealing with anything remotely the same....but you still feel the need to carry on the spark to light a flame under an issue just to pass the torch. I was there for the meeting, I sat there and shut my mouth just so I could listen to the ignorance being purged from all of those who came to discuss a dress code, but really just came to point fingers and call someone a racist. Oh and must I say; here's to you Mr. I am going to stand up in the middle of a discussion that is supposed to be about a dress code and try and rile up a bunch of students and start a riot NAACP man, great job, you tried your hardest, but so sad, no riot :( It takes balls the size of grapefruits to be called a racist and then call a meeting of the people condemning you to discuss the issue. Mr. McClure did something few would ever do, and someone who was truly a racist would not have the courage to stand in front of all of those pointing fingers and take your crap. I also very much enjoyed the pure passion the one female student had when she demanded that Mr. McClure put out his cigarette, how nice that you took the time out of your day to fight the war on racism and you still find the time to protect the world from second had smoke in an establishment and a state where we are very lucky to still have the right to smoke indoors. Say what you will about Jaberwoke and its service, or lack there of from the point of view of most, but that is something that can be fixed, what can't be fixed is the ignorance and the stupidity of so many who have nothing better to do with their day. I guess here is where my thoughts end and the attack begins from all of you who are so tightly wound and want to call me a racist too when you have no clue as to who I am. Well go ahead and say it, walk tall and be proud and call me a racist, the humility I find in what I know will happen is that you know me just as well as I am sure you know Mr. McClure, you will bash me, bash my comments, you might even bash how I wrote this; to that I have to say the hell with you, I don't want to associate myself with anyone who decides to go as far as calling someone a racist without knowing who they are or what they stand for. Oh, one last thing...to the angry gentleman who was standing up front during the meeting at Jaberwoke (SORRY I DID NOT HAVE THE PLEASURE OF GETTING YOUR NAME) but I enjoyed your remark as you walked out about the "crackers" at the meeting who didn't have anything to say! Bravo my friend.

The Bilderberg Group March 29th, 2007 | 9:18pm

Now you've heard of it.

Buck wheat March 29th, 2007 | 9:28pm

I be happy dat dey be keep out da riffs raffs so's me and spanky cans enjoy dem drunk sority gals wit da big boobies day daddies bought dem for day birfday. I be learned in the first grade dat da teacher be in charge of da school yard. Da schoolyard be belong to da owner of da jabberwacky and he be gits to decide who plays and who don't. Ifs you don't's like it den change yo drawers and cums back. Days gots plenty of beer for everbody.

Sick and tired! March 29th, 2007 | 9:31pm

Edit: I will not try and take the past anguish that African Americans have faced, so please add you parents to the list of family who had to deal with the what racism really was back then. However, in todays society, especially in this case, all that is being done is a weak attempt to try and prove that every little thing is race related....people, this was not one of them....dig somewhere else, and please, if Jaberwoke is all you are going to take on then this is a joke anyway...take on all establishments with dress codes...hell take on NYC..or better yet, every establishment in every state that you "think" or "feel" is being racist by banning certain clothing.

pina.colada@tradervic's.cpc March 29th, 2007 | 9:45pm

IF YOU PLEASE, ADMIT THIS WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING:

This was a private business venture from the very beginning. These good ol’ boys had more money than the city anyway, and they neither needed nor wanted a handout. Sure, the parking rate was kept low, but that was done with the customer in mind - a noble action. He was the customer of: Charlottesville Hardware Co, or Keller and George, or the Jefferson-Lafayette Theatres, or National Bank and Trust Co., or Gilmore, Hamm & Snyder, or The Peoples Bank of Charlottesville, or Timberlake’s, or The Young Men’s Shop, or Citizens Bank & Trust Co., or Miller & Rhoads. Collectively, these original stock and bond holders were the genesis of the stockholders of today. Hovey Dabney presided over the company’s bond repurcbase in 1971. “Stock in lieu” was issued instead of the 6% per annum interest (10 years deferred) bondholders expected.
For example, it is understood that Charlottesville Broadcasting Co. became American Broadcasting Company, known as ABC. Disney bought ABC. Jefferson National and Central Fidelity Bank (also stockholders) became Wachovia. Does CVS now beneficially own old Standard Drug certificates? Does Bank of America own its predecessors’ stock? The supply of capital is almost endless, for meaningful progress to occur downtown. It would certainly be nice to be elected to the Board now, when there are so many available options.

There was a very well-dressed wolf in the downtown neighborhood; and, unfortunately, many were comforted and lulled by its soft, woolen coat. Curiously, the fangs were what intrigued this citizen.

Al Gore March 29th, 2007 | 9:53pm

I think everyone needs to realize that the reason black people wear those baggy clothes is because I Al gore INVENTED hip hop culture so that blacks would wear baggy clothes. It is a well known fact that dark skinned people absorb more heat which causes global warming. The baggy clothes keep them cooler. An Inconvieneent Truth.

PS You people fail to realize that the REAL WORLD means that this guy has a responsibilty to protect his patrons. If he doesen't then the sue happy UVA daddies and mommies will surely bring him down if their precious little peace corp wannabe should get punched, stabbed or worse.

Isaac Olayinka March 29th, 2007 | 10:10pm

If the reason for the dress code is to eliminate blacks from Jaberwoke,then the place should be closed down and the owner(s) prosecuted for racism

I am not telling you my name March 29th, 2007 | 10:22pm

Why? Because I am black and not only am I black but I am a UVA student who went to Jaberwocky last Thursday and listened to alot of African American music, got drunk, had fun, all while wearing jeans and a shirt made by a company that is owned by another African American (a hip hop artist) and to top it all I danced with a white girl (She had a fat ass). I am not telling you my name because those of you who went to that student council meeting are the only ones who care about this and I don't want you comming down on me because I think you guys are much more racist then this guy ever was. I can tell you that while the dress code was in place I got in wearing lose jeans, but they were not falling off of my ass either, I dressed in true to form hip hop style and no one said a word to me besides what can I get for you when I walked to the bar. I know the people the dress code was refering to, they were not students and the blow the guy tried to sell me was evidence that they were not in there to dance either. I hope you guys get your award from the NAACP or whatever it may be that you are trying to get and move on.

Isaac's common sense March 29th, 2007 | 10:39pm

I apolgise for Issac, sometimes he talks without thinking. He didn't realize that he was in america where if you want to be a racist it is LEGAL. You see, he does not realize that there is a difference between discriminating against someone because of their race and discriminating against someone because of their behavior.

The guy who said that if they wanted to ban people in sheets and pointy hats had a point. I don't think you folks would come to their defense. Discrimination is discrimination.

what about the clubs in New York that won't let in ugly women? Shouldn't they be shut down????

Bob Seger March 29th, 2007 | 10:46pm

I used to have really long hair and when I was on the road people used to say things like "is that a woman or a man" and you always seem outnumbered so you dare not make a stand.

Then I got a haircut. Now I can eat almost anywhere (except the night club in "animal house") without getting hassled.

who would have thought?

Race Car'd March 30th, 2007 | 12:34am

Racism isn't just some kind of attitude toward or discrimination against a person not the same color. It is also the focusing on or looking for possible race-related actions, motives, topics, or attitudes wherever they *might* be found; this usually happens on an at least partially unconscious level, because somebody wants to find someone else to blame for their own problems, difficulties, discomfort, or unpleasant reactions instead of looking for what they can do to take care of those things themselves. They get off on self-righteous indignation and feeling empowered by being pissed off. In other words, they're trying to lay their trip on somebody else, instead of using "right discrimination", as Buddha termed it, to decide when not to get embroiled in another person's ignorance or foolish actions. That knee-jerk reaction of getting in somebody's face just because you feel you've been "dissed" is self-defeating. Mainly, you're creating or perpetuating karmic ties with them that interfere with your getting on with your own business.

We're all given tricky tests along the way to see if we're paying attention; if we catch ourselves before reacting in a way that flies back in our faces, then we've made progress, and so on.

Haven't you all heard this before? People of all kinds would benefit from letting other people trip themselves up and not getting in the way. That lets them more clearly see for themselves what they did to fall in the mud, and it keeps you from getting muddy and having to work extra to wash their mud away.

So, if some private club owner decides to keep out people that dress some particular way because he doesn't dig the vibe that happens to represent to him, mind your own business. That's what he's doing, and if he loses clientele because of it, that's his business, too - not yours. Choose your battles carefully, and act, not because you like the way it feels to give in to anger, but because it is true, necessary, and kind to do so.

just SHUT UP everybody March 30th, 2007 | 2:19am

to all of you who are writing long posts to say why this isn't racist: shut up.

to all of you who are saying McClure had a right to do whatever he wanted: shut up

to all of you who are condemning the students who accepted an invite to have a dialogue with McClure: DEFINITELY shut up--that's just down right terrible.

the issue isn't race, the issue isn't whether or not the Andy man had a legal right to establish a dresscode, and the issue isn't that students wanted attention. you are all stupid if you think these are the issues.

problem 1: andy says people who wear white tees and baggy jeans are going to be violent
problem 2: the dress code is only enforced on certain individuals
problem 3: andy has changed "what he said" and "what he meant" innumerable times.
problem 4: andy cracked jokes, smoked a cigarette, and wants a blue ribbon for calling a forum when really it was a stand-up comedian act on his behalf.
problem 5: jaberwoke doesnt even know what kind of customers it wants

you cant say every person that has dimples is going to commit a murder just because you see (or HEAR, rather) three people with dimples commit murder.

who cares about race, who cares about law, this is about logic, which is something that MCCLURE and apparently half of you people posting lack.

so shut up!!

"A CUSTOMER" is CLEARLY ANDY...idiot March 30th, 2007 | 2:31am

ok ANDY you proved the point made earlier that you ARE an idiot by stating the same stupid points you attempted to make during the meeting....you're an idiot by saying that you are a customer when you're the owner. smoooth.

and ANDY you like to throw in the fact that you graduated from UVa with every chance you get. UM, is that supposed to mean you're a genius? a saint? because wouldn't that mean that half the people at your meeting are on your level? get real, and get over yourself. to be honest, it sure boggles my mind how exactly you DID end up graduating from there.

i bet you used your smart mouth to get over.

and ANDY it's funny that all you can do is talk about how dress codes exist elsewhere when it comes time to talk about your own. wanna focus? nobody is asking you about rapture, or any other place. how about you use the intelligence you imply is tied to your degree and answer questions directly?

ANDY, you're funny. I bet you'll be back on here creating all kinds of names to act like people who support you. the fact of the matter is, not many do. and those who do, i bet, haven't had a conversation with you.

good job, "a customer."

lol.....you're so funny. oh and congratulations for graduating from the Comm School in '01, it's obvious that you've been looking for someone to say that.

GROW UP YA BIG BABY

Junior March 30th, 2007 | 8:43am

Hey yo, who cares about the clothes. Anybody who dresses that way looks like a fool. What inquiring minds really want to know, and I don't see that anyone has asked is...Has Dr. Ricky scored any good crack lately?

A customer #2 March 30th, 2007 | 9:38am

To the last post and the one before; I bet you are feeling really good about yourself when you try to pull off the mask and unviel someone, wow you are so good,a regular Sherlock, did your penis grow any when you though you solved the crime? I know who was "a customer" and "a customer #2" is me ...but neither are this "ANDY". You might think that he is behind all of this, and he is here "creating names" but the truth is that there are as many people out here that just want all of you to shut the hell up when you have no clue as to what you are talking about. Mr. or Mrs. , I would not want to discriminate in the case "just shut up everybody" is a female, but the true idiot is you, I am sure you were one of the people who were at that meeting, one of those who were backed by such a fearless leader in Mr. Turner, one of those people who pointed fingers without knowing any facts. Or maybe you are one of the 400 facebook members who belong to that group, out of 400 of you that have such a problem with this dress code, 50, maybe 50 of you showed your face, some support. Screw that "race card" bs, you have pulled out the whole fucking deck on this one. "Grow up ya big baby", such childish talk must come from a very smart person; be an adult and just say it, screw me for my opinion and I will say screw you right back. Keep thinking that this guy is behind these post, but I would be very pissed if he or anyone else got the credit for what I have to say. you can call all of these post on here that don't conform to your opinion racist, however I believe very few are, its the simple fact that people are getting tired of hearing your non sense bull shit. Idiots!

Graduate March 30th, 2007 | 10:16am

I see racial tension at UVA is as bad as ever. If you are a white male, walk head down and silent past any minority group lest you provide a target upon which to unleach the flames of pent anger so carefully stoked by our institutions and media.

Student March 30th, 2007 | 10:25am

if you are a black male, walk head down and silent past any white person or group, or Jaberwoke, to avoid being racially profiled, or physically or verbally attacked.

Nice to see people flip the script and try and say the whites here have it tough.

Ha...

For Real March 30th, 2007 | 10:36am

if you are a black male and you seriously think people are going to believe you have been racially profiled, or physically or verbally attacked by a restauarant after hearing all of this whining then go see a Dr., because you may be mentally retarded, and then you could also use that to try and make people feel sorry for you, and then accuse them of descrimination because you are as slow as you seem to be.

Spanky March 30th, 2007 | 10:41am

Rock on Buck Wheat!

just SHUT UP everybody March 30th, 2007 | 11:33am

to all of you who are writing long posts to say why this is racist: shut up.

to all of you who are saying McClure did not have a right to do whatever he wanted: shut up

to all of you who are congratulating the students who accepted an invite to have a dialogue with McClure: DEFINITELY shut up--that's just down right terrible.

The Andy man had a legal right to establish a dresscode, and the issue is that students wanted attention. you are not all stupid if you think these are the issues.

problem 1: People who wear white tees and baggy jeans are going to be violent and/or carry weapons.

problem 2: the dress code is not only enforced on certain individuals

problem 3: the students interperited c "what he said" and "what he meant" innumerable times.

problem 4: Rick Turner smoked crack ,andy smoked a cigarette, and recieved a blue ribbon for being a stand-up comedian.

problem 5: customers dont even know what kind of jaberwoke it wants

you can say it is a trend that every person that has dimples is going to commit a murder because you see (or HEAR, rather) three people with dimples commit murder.

who cares about race, who cares about law, this is about logic, which is something that MCCLURE and apparently half of you people posting know alot about.

so shut up!!

Back At Cha March 30th, 2007 | 11:39am

At least I know how to spell a lot.

B. Thinker March 30th, 2007 | 12:32pm

In my opinion the McClures should be allowed to have their little dress code.
Why did the white shirt, baggy pants look became popular? Probably so hoodlums could not be identified by the police when they are called about crime. So if that look is "black heritage" that is SO SAD! So why would any business want these baggy hoodlums in their midst? I bet not many do want them there!? Who the hell wants to deal with the stupid ass NAACP either. I believe that Rick Turner has been seen in one of the other McClure brothers restaurants...the night before this meeting. Maybe Mr. Turner could start a restaurant and only have individuals who dress in this manner be the clientele??? I bet it would get vandalized, fights would be routine, and drugs would be consumed and dealt!

Cheers to the Jab!

Jay March 30th, 2007 | 12:56pm

"no, fool, that's not racial profiling. (And come now, no black people I know would even consider dressing like that and trying to seriously go clubbing, so you gave yourself away)."

Wow, do I need to comment on how incredibly dumb y and y's statement is?

Speechless

back at back at cha March 30th, 2007 | 1:14pm

You can probably spell "alright" too....aight, and "at you" or in your case at cha, and how about something as sinple as "the" or da in your world. Hit me up homie and keep talking shit.

damn March 30th, 2007 | 1:19pm

Simple

BAR FLY March 30th, 2007 | 4:14pm

Turner drinks Sapphire Cosmos.
What's up with that?

Also, McClure can smoke as many cigarettes in his restaurant as he wants. This IS Virginia people. Haven't y'all ever been to a bar before?

I'd really just like to see some more hard-hitting, real-issue journalism by the Hook. Like maybe a front page story about the NORAD standown on 9/11. Or water fluoridation. Or forced-drugging of children (and adults, senior citizens) by the State and/or Federal Governments. Or how children are five times more likely to be abused when in CPS custody. Or forced ECT. Or water fluoridation. Or eugenics. Or why we work our whole lives for paper money that the folks who own the money printing machines print at their disposal, when we should be working for gold. Or how US Military jets have been casually spraying chemicals over our skies most days of the week for the last four years (or longer in other regions). Or the White House spending 25 Billion on fake news. Or the Clinton-Bush Cocaine Cartel. Or at least something on Spencer Hawes himself. It's not like there's any shortage.

Aspartame Causes Rumsfeld's Disease March 31st, 2007 | 10:14pm

No, seriously.

comment related to story April 1st, 2007 | 10:06am

So the bar allows some blacks and not other blacks. How is this racist? Remember the old days when racist meant any and every member of a certain race was was excluded. Is the bar racist against whites also because some whites are not allowed in the bar?

Racism against your own race? Yep, that was on display in last week's The Tribune (3/29/07 page 3): The conservative newspaper's editor is reluctant to critcize the liberal Al Sharpton because both are black. That excplains the 3/1/07 issue where a liberal black city councilor, who announced she would not seek another term, could not be criticized directly. So in a separate editorial liberal blacks were condemned generally for selling out the black community.

So back at the bar: Imagine well-behaved blacks (the majority) do nothing as thug blacks create trouble. Then later the well-behaved black is no longer allowed in. Makes sense. Why do so many blacks tolerate the gang culture? Self-racism?

PC CvilleLOL April 1st, 2007 | 10:22pm

Lets all jump on the bandwagon! We need a cause! If we're not facing predudice, someone must be and we must take the cause as our own!

Come on people, everything is not about race! I live in the poor section of town, it's a mix of black and white, oh yeah and some mexicans. A lot of them wear baggy pants and t-shirts, its a style, not just a black style. Maybe it started out that way but I see more white kids dressed like that, they usually come from upper class families and I guess are trying to freak out mommy & daddy, pretending they're "gangsta"

Next you'll be telling me all these kids wearing bandanas are all in gangs?!?!?!?

Get a Grip April 2nd, 2007 | 1:17pm

I am late in responding, but I think that it's still worth putting something up here. In reading over all of the other posts, there is so much anger directed at Andy and his restuarant, and I have to wonder if he is not the symptom of a considerably larger issue. Is it not not inherently racisit to assume that banning a type of clothing is going to ban an entire race? Perhaps the problem is not in the dress code, but in the outright assesment that the dress code profiles any one race inparticular. For those of you that are writing without having spent much or any time at Jab, you may not know that in the last months the owners and managers have gone to great lengths to re-model and revamp the interior, the menu and the overall atmospeher at Jaberwoke to promote it into it's next phase as a Corner staple. In doing so, it does not seem that outlandish that they would also be making efforts to learn the best ways to manage their corwd and keep the peace so that everyone involved can enjoy it. It blows me away that a discussion about what it appropriate for college ages kids to wear has turned into point a white supremicist finger at a man that is largely more in touch with the student population than 80% of this fair city. Please don't target a restaurant owner for a societal problem that largely comes from the people that are making the assumption about who is being profiled and not those that are asking someone to clean it up before entering their business. Everyone on this post is talking about walking a mile in someone else's shoes if you've never been profiled unjustly; I would now ask that everyone consider taking an empathetic step in the shoes of a college town business owner and see how far you might be able to make it. It's a two way street.

DP April 3rd, 2007 | 10:35am

"The robber was a light-skinned black man with some facial hair wearing a large white T-shirt and a New York Yankees baseball cap, Teixeira said."

I hope you dumb f%#kS are the ones that get stabbed or shot when one of these baggy pants animals goes nuts in Jab. Perhaps when you are lying on the floor dying you will come to your senses. If the 911 line isn't tied up by people calling about these criminals all over the city you might be lucky enough to get an ambulance.

You think Charlottesville is safe? You are nuts.

ABP April 4th, 2007 | 1:23pm

Almost every bar in bigger cities have some sort of dress code,there is nothing wrong with Jaberwoke doing the same, if it cuts down on rude customers! Also, now that you know how you have to dress to get in, if you want to get that bad wear something that will get you in. DUH!! Plus, I am sure Jaberwoke knows the exact type and race of people who have caused problems in their bar, so they have a right to screen people if they want.

UVA08 April 4th, 2007 | 3:39pm

I knew someone who works at the Jab. A lot of people have said the owner is "proclaiming that their restaurant is something that it's not". I don't think they realize that this McClure guy is a new owner.

The old owners were the ones who made that place a dark, dirty pit. I hope the Jab turns over a new leaf and is a little nicer in the future.

Longtime C-ville resident April 4th, 2007 | 11:53pm

That's not about race, that's about wearing low-class clothes and decency. I don't want to see the top of anyone's underwear in public.

And if it is true that such clothing is still more often worn by black kids, which I doubt, then hey, maybe it's time for them to get a fashion wakeup call. I don't care how lily white or polka dot your skin is, no race should get a free ride when it comes to behaviour that we agree on by social consensus. As a former delivery driver, tipping is another such issue that comes to mind (unfortunately here too African American culture is lacking, but I can think of many examples where races have clear negative characteristics).

Former Bar Fly April 7th, 2007 | 5:01pm

This is so dumb. Anyone who goes to bars know which people start the trouble. Doesn't matter what color you are if you dress like a thug then people are going to think you're a thug and assume you're going to act like one. If you dress like a protitute then people are going to think you're a prostitute and assume you'll do favors for cash. If you dress like a girl scout then people are going to assume you're a girl scout and will want to buy thin mints and s'mores from you. Point is that people who dress that way know the impression that they're giving off and shouldn't be the least bit surprised that they're singled out in a dress code.